Professions in Polish

Polish
1 answer

Welcome to another vocabulary lesson! I promise, I will write more about Polish grammar soon :)

This time I will teach you some Polish words and expressions about working, jobs and professions. We will start with basic Polish sentence that can describe somebody's job.

I think the easiest way to do so is to use Play audio Pracuję jako ... I work as a ... and then add the name of the job. You could also simply say: Jestem lekarzem I am a doctor but that in Polish would require putting the name of the profession into the so-called instrumental case and is, therefore, more difficult. So at least for the time being stick to Pracuję jako ... I work as a ... and add the name of the profession from the dictionary in the basic form. Here are a few examples:

Play audio

Pracuję jako kierowca I work as a driver

Pracuję jako piekarz I work as a baker

Pracuję jako chirurg I work as a surgeon

Pracuję jako inżynier I work as an engineer

And here's some more examples:

Play audio

Pracuję jako ... architekt, naukowiec, murarz, tynkarz, rzeźnik, rolnik, stolarz, elektryk, hydraulik, ślusarz, spawacz I work as a ... architect, scientist, bricklayer, plasterer, butcher, farmer, carpenter, electrician, plumber, locksmith, welder

Pracuję jako ... ogrodnik, mechanik, górnik, malarz, fotograf, pilot, żołnierz, weterynarz, kierownik, ochroniarz I work as a ... gardener, mechanic, miner, painter, photographer, pilot, soldier, vet, manager, security guard

Other names of the jobs in Polish

Of course, these few jobs we have seen so far do not cover all the possibilities but before we will continue, one point. It is quite common in the Polish language that the name of the job slightly differs depending on the gender of the person who has it. This also happens in English, for instance, we say a waiter and waitress as well as policeman and policewoman. The same in Polish, it is very such variations are very common so you sometimes will need to refer to the dictionary for the correct name of the jobs. But let's add some more.

Men's professions Play audio

nauczyciel, lekarz, dentysta, pielęgniarz, farmaceuta, dziennikarz, księgowy, prawnik, sprzedawca, kasjer, laborant, bibliotekarz, fryzjer, krawiec, dyrektor, urzędnik teacher, doctor, dentist, male nurse, pharmacist, journalist, accountant, shop assistant, cashier, lab assistant, librarian, barber, director, clerk

Women's professions Play audio

nauczycielka, lekarka, dentystka, pielęgniarka, farmaceutka, dziennikarka, księgowa, prawniczka, sprzedawczyni, kasjerka, laborantka, bibliotekarka, fryzjerka, krawcowa, dyrektorka, urzędniczka teacher, doctor, dentist, nurse, pharmacist, journalist, accountant, shop assistant, cashier, lab assistant, librarian, hair dresser, director, clerk

Additional Polish vocabulary

I think that saying what we do is not enough. We need to be a bit more ambitious and learn some more useful Polish phrases that will allow talking about professions. Talking about a job is quite a popular topic, we are always curious about what other people and want to know what they do and if they like doing it. Here are a few further Polish sentences that will help us:

Play audio

Czym się zajmujesz? What do you do (for a living)?

Jaki jest twój zawód? What is your job?

Nie pracuję, dopiero szukam pracy I do not work, I am just looking for a job

Jestem studentem, studiuję ... biologię, matematykę, chemię, historię, geografię, język angileski, język polski, IT I am a student, I study ... biology, mathematics, chemistry, history, geography, English language, Polish language, IT

Play audio

Gdzie pracujesz? Where do you work?

Pracuję w sklepie I work at a shop

Pracuję w fabryce I work at a factory

Pracuję w biurze I work at the office

Pracuję na budowie I work on the building site.

We can actually combine these two short sentences into a longer one.

Play audio

Pracuję w szpitalu jako lekarka I work at a hospital as a doctor

Pracuję w szkole jako dyrektor I work at a school as a director

Pracuję w firmie jako księgowy I work in a company as an accountant

Pracuję na budowie jako murarz I wofk on a building site as a bricklayer

Pracuję w przedszkolu jako nauczycielka I work at a nursery as a teacher

Pracuję w biurze jako architekt I work at the office as an architect

Play audio

Szukam pracy I am looking for a job

Jestem bezrobotny I am unemployed (man)

Jestem bezrobotna I am unemployed (woman)

Jestem już na emeryturze I am already retired

Jestem na rencie I am on disability benefit

Jestem chory i nie mogę pracować I am ill and cannot work (man)

Play audio

W jakich godzinach pracujesz? What hours do you work?

Czy pracujesz w czasie weekendu? Do you work during weekends?

Czy pracujesz na zmiany? Do you work shifts?

Czy lubisz swoją pracę? Do you like your job?

To work: verb conjugation

Let's finish this lesson with the conjugation of the verb "to work" so you will know how to use it correctly in different situations. I will only cover the verb in the present tense.

Play audio

Ja pracuję I work

Ty pracujesz You work

On pracuje He works (masculin)

Ona pracuje She works (feminin)

Ono pracuje It works (neutral)

My pracujemy We work

Wy pracujecie You work

Oni pracują They work (masculin).

One pracują They Work (feminine)

I hope you have found it useful. Please visit the Polish language section for more resources and lessons.

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